Blues fans anxious to see their hometown boys' F/A-18 Hornets scream across the Gulf of Mexico, after federal budget cuts forced the Navy flight demonstration team to cancel most of its shows last year, are expected to storm Pensacola Beach by car, boat, bicycle, on foot and even by taxi.

That has Pensacola Beach officials preparing for a historic crowd for Friday and Saturday's Blue Angels air shows based on all indications — hotel and vacation rental bookings and by the volume of phone calls and emails to the visitor center, not to mention the buzz among locals who say they're determined to support their beloved Blues this year.

"It will be the biggest show ever, absolutely," Bob West, public safety supervisor said, barring a curve ball from Mother Nature.

"This is not our first rodeo. We have planning in place. We'll have plenty of assets ... cops, EMS, lifeguards."

What the beach won't have is plenty of parking for the anticipated 10,000-plus Blues fans expected to pour onto the beach for each of the two big shows — Friday's full dress rehearsal and Saturday's main event.

If history holds true for other big Blues weekends, limited public parking spaces — 2,945 — will cause the traffic to back up all the way through Gulf Breeze, across the Pensacola bay bridge and, quite possibly Saturday, into Pensacola with fans from all the over region trying to see their Blues again.

No doubt boats by the hundreds will fill the waters around Quietwater Beach and in Little Sabine with fans getting thrills from the Blues screaming over them on the way to the beachfront.

West is urging show fans to plan, plan, plan for the big Blues return.

"When you leave your house, don't plan for a two-hour show," West said. "This is a 10-hour day. Arrive to the beach early. Plan to stay late. Take plenty of water for all day. Take sunscreen and plenty to eat."

"And keep your eye on the sky," he added. "If we start getting high-top clouds and you see lighting, leave the beach."

And boaters should pull up anchor and head for home before any thunderstorms blow into the area, West said.

In years past, a boater and one beachgoer were killed by lightning strikes, he said.

And 20 other people who were zapped by a nearby bolt survived. Jumping off your boat into salt water during a lightning storm is a bad idea, West said of a practice he has seen in the past.

Nicole Stacey, president of the beach chamber of commerce says the Visitor Information Center phone is ringing off the hook with out-of-towners seeking information on the Blues show, including asking how early should they get out to the beach and where to buy tickets.

"We're telling them to get out as early as possible to set up their spot. And we're letting them know this is going to be a record-breaking show," she said. "The last record year, the Casino Beach parking lot filled up at 8:15 a.m."

And more importantly, she said, it's free and open to everyone, with the Santa Rosa Island Authority picking up the tab on the biggest beach event of the year.

Veteran Blues fan Mark Hayes of Gulf Breeze learned a long time ago to go to Friday's full dress rehearsal show, the show most locals attend, and ditch the car. He hires a taxi to take him and his out-of-town friends to the show to avoid the parking and traffic woes.

He makes a reservation a week in advance and times the trip when traffic is lighter.

"I'll have the taxi pick me up at 12:30 (p.m.) and take us to The Dock at Casino Beach and drop us off," he said. "It only takes about 10 to 15 minutes. We take four beach chairs, four umbrellas and a cooler."

He has the taxi pick them back up about 5 p.m.

"We're going to be drinking, so we don't have to worry about driving and getting a DUI," he said. "I know other friends of mine who will go out the night before the show, park their truck and take a cab home and have the taxi take them back out the next day."

Hayes also is expecting a larger than normal crowd Friday, even though traditionally Friday's crowds are lighter than Saturday's.

"A lot of people are taking the whole week off of work, with July Fourth falling on Friday, and they're staying on the beach," he said. "The camp areas and hotels were booked months ago."

Of course, anyone who wants to avoid all the craziness associated with the big crowds should consider attending Wednesdays 8 a.m. Breakfast with the Blues or Thursday's 2 p.m. practice show.

Stacey says beach businesses and air show vendors are trying to figure out how to be prepared for this year's show.

Beach eatery Dog House Deli is crunching the numbers to figure out how many hot dogs and buns to buy to serve hungry crowds as an air show vendor for the first time and keep Nathan Holler's customers fed at his deli on Via de Luna at the same time.

"It's hard to plan," he said. "Maybe 4,000 hot dogs for the weekend. I'm working on the numbers and logistics. I have to have plenty of ice to keep the cold products cold, and I have to keep the hot products hot in 100-degree-weather."

And he has to make sure he's well stocked at the air show because running to his deli storeroom to restock will be impossible with the traffic gridlock, he said.

"It's going to be a big weekend," he said.

"We didn't have the Blues last year. It was a heartache for everyone," Holler said. "We took them for granted all those years. When we didn't have them and thought we might lose them, we have a greater appreciation for them now. Everyone wants to celebrate the Blues and celebrate Pensacola."

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The Blue Angels fly overhead as they practice in 2008 at Pensacola Beach.(Photo: PNJ file photo)

Air show survival guide

• Arrive early, and plan to stay late. Casino Beach parking lot is expected to fill up as early as 8 a.m.

• From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, trolleys will pick up and drop off show fans from Park East and Park West. There will be two extra ECAT buses transporting fans to and from the show from parking lots and trolley stops on Saturday. The regular trolley schedule and stops kick in at 6 p.m. on both days. For the regular trolley schedule, visit http://visit pensacolabeach.com/ trolleytracker/index.php.

• Gas up before leaving for the beach. There's only one fueling station on the beach.

• Be patient in traffic. Expect traffic to be backed up across Bob Sikes Bridge, through Gulf Breeze and Pensacola bay bridge Saturday and possibly Friday.

• Wear shores. This time of the year, the sand and pavements are too hot for bare feet.

• Take plenty of water, food and sunscreen for the entire day.

• Take a beach umbrella or beach cabana for shade, especially if you have small children.

• As soon as you arrive at the beach, select a spot or landmark at which to meet your children if they get lost. Each year 30 to 40 children get separated from their families, some are found wandering miles down the beach.

• Pensacola Beach fire department will provide a water spray area to cool off near the public safety building on Casino Beach.

• Air show vendors will be selling water and other beverages, food, shaved ice and souvenirs at Casino Beach.

• Open alcohol drinks are not allowed in public parking lots.

• Glass containers are not allowed on the beach.

• Dogs only are allowed in the two designated dog parks.

• For more details on the air show, call the Santa Rosa Island Authority at (850) 932-2257.

Beach Schedule

• 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday: Breakfast with the Blues. Take your breakfast and coffee to the beach, or pick up breakfast from beach restaurants and watch the Blues perform circle and arrival maneuvers as they get acquainted with the air show space. This is the least crowded show of the week.